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Liberal candidate looking forward to campaign

The newly-announced Liberal candidate for North Coast is a long-time party volunteer who worked on former MLA Bill Belsey's two campaigns in this riding, and is looking forward to debating issues over the next six weeks."I'm expecting very little sleep, and lots of work," Judy Fraser told the Observer on Monday. "I think this is a really important election."Ms Fraser is a longtime Prince Rupert resident and business owner who first got involved in provincial politics in 2000, when she volunteered for Mr. Belsey's campaign. She enjoyed that work, and went on to join the provincial executive of the Liberal Party, a volunteer position she held from 2001 to 2006, and again from 2011 to now. She also worked on Mr. Belsey's 2005 campaign (when he lost to NDP Gary Coons) and was a paid field organizer for the Liberals between 2006 and 2009, working in the three ridings of North Coast, Skeena and Stikine and becoming familiar with the issues and concerns of northern BC residents.With Prince Rupert now on the brink of several large projects, Ms Fraser said she volunteered to run to make sure there is a local voice saying yes to economic development."I believe that right now this region is on the doorstep of some wonderful economic activities," she said. "I don't think we can say no to everything and that seems to be happening."Ms Fraser said she noticed young people moving back to Prince Rupert last year for the first time since the 1990s, and wants to see that trend continue. The region has suffered economically with the loss of the mill and much of the fishing industry, she said, but seems to be turning around.As for Haida Gwaii, Ms Fraser has been here in the past, knows most of the Liberal supporters here, and is looking forward to making at least one campaign visit, maybe more."I definitely know the challenges that the residents face there with the ferries, the plane schedule, getting mail," she said. She said she keeps informed about what's going on here, and was well aware of the new hospital project in Queen Charlotte, the completion of the Kaay Centre in Skidegate, and the Kunst'aa Guu-Kunst'aayah reconciliation protocol signed between the Haida Nation and the provincial government in 2009.Asked about her position on the Northern Gateway pipeline, Ms Fraser said she would like to get better educated on the issue and will be listening to what her constituents have to say. The provincial government has already said that Enbridge will have to meet some stringent conditions before it will consider supporting the pipeline, she noted.On liquified natural gas, or LNG, Ms Fraser said north coasters seem mainly positive about this new industry and are looking forward to jobs from the several LNG terminals proposed for the area. However, she said, environmental standards must be met."I've lived in this area all my life, I wouldn't want anything to harm this beautiful north coast," she said.The provincial election will be held May 14. Ms Fraser is the second candidate to come forward in the North Coast riding; the NDP selected Jennifer Rice as their candidate earlier this year.